At a glance
1/2–2 lb.
In the surf, 2–10 ft.
Morning and the incoming tide.
2 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Deep-bodied, silvery perch with 8–10 bronze or olive vertical bars and spots on the sides. Surfperch give birth to live young.
- Typical size
1/2–2 lb.
- Maximum size
About 17 in and 4.5 lb.
- Diet
Sand crabs, clams, worms and small shrimp washed up by the waves.
- Behavior
Swims in the surf zone right next to the beach, feeding in the troughs between the waves.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from Southern California and Central & Northern California. Sandy surf beaches from Baja to Central California.
- Habitat
Sandy surf beaches from Baja to Central California.
- Depth
In the surf, 2–10 ft.
- Fishing depth
In the first trough off the beach, 2–10 ft.
- Best season
All year; best in winter and spring.
- Best time
Morning and the incoming tide.
- Best tides
Incoming tide, about two hours before high tide.
- Best weather / conditions
Small to moderate surf.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Sand crabs, clams, mussels and bloodworms.
- Best artificial lures
Small grubs (1–2 in) in root beer or camo colors.
- Tackle setup
9–11 ft light to medium surf rod with a spinning reel.
- Hook size
Size 4–1 hooks on a Carolina rig, or small grubs.
- Line
8–12 lb mono.
- Leader
6–10 lb fluorocarbon, 18–24 in.
BigJoe's setup for Barred surfperch
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Sandy surf beaches from Baja to Central California.
- Rig up: 9–11 ft light to medium surf rod with a spinning reel. 6–10 lb fluorocarbon, 18–24 in.
- Pick your bait: Sand crabs, clams, mussels and bloodworms. Lures: Small grubs (1–2 in) in root beer or camo colors.
- Fish it: Cast a light Carolina rig into the trough just past the first wave and slowly drag it back.
- Time it: Morning and the incoming tide. Incoming tide, about two hours before high tide.
- Fishing techniques
Cast a light Carolina rig into the trough just past the first wave and slowly drag it back.
- BigJoe's tip
Look for troughs and rips — a darker, smoother patch of water in the surf.
- Catch and release
Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.
Clean & cook
Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.
- Edibility
Good eating when fresh.
- Cleaning
Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
- Cooking suggestions
Small, sweet fillets — pan-fry them.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Watch for sneaker waves and rip currents — never turn your back on the ocean.
- Regulations
California has a bag limit and some seasonal closures for redtail surfperch in parts of the state. Check CDFW. Licenses, size and bag limits and seasons are set by each state — the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (wildlife.ca.gov), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (myodfw.com) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov) — together with NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. Rules change often, and many areas are no-take marine reserves: check before you go.
- Conservation
Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.
Where it's found
Tap an area to open its fishing map.